Ole Miss Player Claims Lane Kiffin Intended to Injure Him: Shocking Allegations Surface

According to a court filing obtained by Front Office Sports, the lawyer of Ole Miss football player DeSanto Rollins claimed that head football coach Lane Kiffin “intended to harm” Rollins, offering examples of how Kiffin “intentionally treated” Rollins differently from white players.

In response to a motion to dismiss filed by Ole Miss and Kiffin, Rollins’ attorney, Carroll Edward Rhodes, made a series of rebuttals in a Tuesday filing, including how an unnamed Rebels kicker remained on the team after a positive drug test.

Rhodes wrote, “All of Kiffin’s actions and inactions were intentional, deliberate, malicious, grossly negligent, negligent, and taken in reckless disregard for the rights and mental health of Rollins.” Rollins, who is Black, alleged in the federal lawsuit that seeks $40 million in damages that Kiffin “ignored” indications Rollins suffered from depression as a result of a series of injuries and the death of his grandmother.

FOS obtained audio of the media and was the first outlet to publish it. “This is a job,” Kiffin told Rollins. “Guess what? If I have mental issues — and I’m not diminishing them — I can’t not see my f—ing boss, when you were told again and again the head coach needs to see you.”

In a motion to dismiss they filed earlier this month, Kiffin and Ole Miss presented several legal arguments explaining why they believe the case should be dismissed. “There is no statutory duty for a football coach to manage his team roster or speak to his players in any particular way,” the lawyers for Kiffin and the school wrote in the motion.

• Invites to team meetings or meals.
• Jersey and other apparel.
• Travel to away games.
• An invitation to participate in Senior Day.

In a motion to dismiss they filed earlier this month, Kiffin and Ole Miss presented several legal arguments explaining why they believe the case should be dismissed. “There is no statutory duty for a football coach to manage his team roster or speak to his players in any particular way,” the lawyers for Kiffin and the school wrote in the motion.

The motion to dismiss also stated it “cannot be said” Kiffin discriminated against Rollins, minus examples that show Kiffin treated white and Black players differently.

In Tuesday’s filing, Rhodes provided two that allegedly show “evidence of disparate treatment of white and black football players.”

Ole Miss and the outside lawyers representing Kiffin and the school did not immediately return messages.

Magistrate Judge Roy Percy issued a stay in the case on Nov. 9, a day after Kiffin and Ole Miss filed their motion to dismiss.